Driver's mate jailed for stealing

Bawku (UER), Dec.15, GNA - A Bawku Circuit court on Thursday sentenced Abukudugu Akuka, 24 a driver's mate to four years imprisonment on his own plea for stealing 300,000 cedis, 600,000 CFA and personal items from their vehicle which was involved in an accident.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Dentis Atigsika, told the court presided over by Mr. Alex Ofori Owusu, that the complainant and accused have worked for over two years on a cargo truck with registration number GR 9197 G that ply the Ghana-Cote D'voire route. He said on October 29, this year, they loaded goods and headed towards Cote D'voire but when they reached Adeiso, near Agona Nkwanta, in the Western region, the vehicle was involved in an accident. The prosecutor said the accused was asked to look over the vehicle whilst the complainant left to inform the police. He said when the complainant returned the accused had left the scene but detected the loss of the money and personal effects.

Police Inspector Atigsika said the complainant later met Akuka at Kumasi and informed him (Akuka) of the theft, Akuka sympathised with the complainant and told the complainant that he (Akuka) fell asleep only to wake up at an unknown destination. He said the accused left Kumasi for Bawku and gave 300,000 cedis and 400,000 CFA to a friend, Alale Muni, for safekeeping. Police Inspector Atigsika said Muni went to a pito bar and when he removed the money from his pocket, some people at the bar became suspicious of the source of the money and alerted the police. He said Muni was arrested and during interrogation told the police that it was Akuka who gave the money to him for safekeeping. The prosecutor said Akuka was arrested and he confessed stealing the money from the complainant (his master).